Sushilkumar Shinde expresses regret over Hindu terror remark

NEW DELHI: Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who escalated tension between Congress and BJP with his "RSS-and-BJP-run-terror-camps" remark did a U-turn on Wednesday. He said that there was no basis for suggesting that terrorism could be linked with the organisations mentioned in my brief speech at Jaipur. The capitulation by the minister was complete as he expressed "regret to those who felt hurt" by his statement. BJP welcomed the statement, while adding that it could have come earlier.

At Congress' Chintan Shivir last month, Shinde had claimed that his department had reports about RSS and BJP running terror camps. "My statement given in Jaipur last month has created a misunderstanding. It has been understood to mean that I was linking terrorism to a particular religion and was accusing certain political organisations of being involved in organising terror camps. I had no intention to link terrorism with any religion. There is no basis for suggesting that terrorism could be linked with the organisations mentioned in my brief speech at Jaipur. Since a controversy has been created on account of my statement I am issuing this clarification and expressing regret to those who felt hurt by my statement," Shinde said in a statement.

Shinde's apology came on a day BJP held a massive demonstration in the city against the home minister. BJP leaders followed up their attack against Shinde at an all-party meeting convened by the minister, where Sushma Swaraj gave enough hints that functioning of Parliament was contingent upon an apology from Shinde.

"The home minister, who is also leader of the House, has alleged that BJP is running terror camps. If we are running terror camps, then I have no right to be Leader of Opposition and BJP members should not be allowed to sit in the House," she said. Swaraj also dared the government to institute a probe against BJP leaders.

Earlier, Congress attempted to create the right atmospherics for a resolution of the stand-off by distancing itself from Shinde's remarks. Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit said his party did not believe that BJP runs terror camps, as claimed by Shinde during the Jaipur conclave last month.

At the all-party meeting, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought bi-partisan support for the legislative agenda. "This session of Parliament is going to transact important financial business before the House and it is our sincere hope that we will have a productive, constructive debate leading to agreed solutions to the many national problems that our country faces," Singh told reporters after an all-party meeting.

"I have said this before and I'll repeat it again. Parliament is the forum for discussions or dialogue and all parties have an obligation to ensure that Parliament runs smoothly. I am hopeful and confident that this session is going to be a fruitful session. It is my sincere hope that all political parties will join hands to find productive, constructive solutions to the formidable challenges facing our nation," Singh said.

At the protest meeting against Shinde, BJP leaders said his comments were part of a conspiracy to divide the nation for vote bank politics and demanded an apology.